Owners of a new business in Hardwick are hoping to “breathe a bit of life” back into the area.

Car part shop Hardwick Auto Parts has just opened its doors on the once run-down precinct of High Newham Court, Hardwick, Stockton .

The shop only opened at the beginning of this week, but owners Nick Brown, 54, and Malcolm Degan, 56, say they have been warmly welcomed.

Nick said: “We’ve been based in Hardwick for six years now, running an alternative training provider. We run a training garage called Phoenix Youth Services, which helps people who have been excluded from school.

“I’ve seen a niche for this type of business around here. The people of the estate love to see a business open here.

“The shops have been here all this time and they have become run down.”

Malcolm Diegan (left) and Nick Brown have set up Hardwick Auto Parts

The pair, both from Billingham , met when their sons played football together as children. They also own Phoenix CIC in Billingham, helping keep land free of development so children can use it to play sport.

In order to further improve the precinct, Nick is working with Stockton Council to see the once-fenced-in courtyard made open to the public.

He said: “The council have agreed to move the bus stop and hopefully we will get a road put through so people can park.

“Malcolm and I came together through youth work over 10 years ago, when we decided we wanted to start our own business with young people that were excluded from school. That’s been very successful over the last six years.

Hardwick's shopping precinct

“Malcolm is running that side of it and I’m running the shop. We work a lot in the community and hopefully the community will support us in our new venture.

“Hardwick has been a deprived area at times and now it’s getting some money put into it.

“Since we’ve come in, other shops have expressed an interest in joining us.

“The precinct was like a prison before, but now it’s had a fresh lick of paint. We want to see life back in Hardwick again.”

Nick’s son, Liam, is already working in the shop, and the pair are advertising for another worker to join the team.

Councillor for Hardwick Ward, Norma Stephenson, said: “Since being elected we have welcomed a number of new businesses to the ward, two Spars, two Subways, a Costa, a Greggs, and Rose Funerals and now valuable businesses to the shopping parade which we are delighted with.

“We will work closely with these tenants to promote and encourage use of the valuable service they have to offer.”